PLYMOUTH – Sentencing has been delayed for the former local police sergeant convicted of brutality charges in federal court.

Shawn Coughlin was scheduled to be sentenced next Tuesday in U.S. District Court for his conviction for using excessive force on a prisoner and then lying to cover it up. Coughlin is now scheduled for sentencing at 3 p.m. Thursday, June 5, before Judge Nathaniel Gorton.

A federal jury convicted Coughlin in February after a five-day trial that featured a video recording of Coughiln attacking a handcuffed drunken driving suspect after an arrest in November 2011.

Coughin, 47, faces up to 20 years in federal prison for falsifying police reports and up to 10 years for using excessive force.

Coughlin’s lawyers are expected to argue for leniency.

Letters submitted to the judge from friends and relatives argue that the veteran officer

has already been punished enough by the loss of his job, pension and reputation.

Since the trial, Gorton has already denied a defense motion for acquittal.

Coughlin’s lawyers unsuccessfully sought to overturn the convictions, claiming there was no evidence the victim in the case, a 26-year-old West Plymouth man, suffered any injuries.

The sentencing was continued because one of Coughin’s lawyers has a scheduling conflict next week.